The 2011 Kia Optima will arrive in dealerships priced from as little as $19,690, which is $225 cheaper than the entry-level Hyundai Sonata.Given how much we like the 2011 Sonata, this sounds like a great bargain, since the new Optima is essentially a Sonata with different skin, the same engines and mechanical bits, and a marginally sportier driving experience.

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The entry model will be the Optima LX with the same six-speed manual transmission and 2.4-liter engine as the base Sonata. For $19,690 you get an audio system with USB, auxiliary, and Bluetooth connections, plus satellite radio; power windows and locks; dual, chrome-tipped exhaust finishers; a cooled glove box; 16-inch steel wheels; and six airbags. Equipping the LX with a six-speed automatic transmission requires $21,190, and adds 16-inch alloy wheels and cruise control to the equipment list. The next step up is the $23,190 EX trim, yielding 17-inch wheels, fog lights, leather seats with eight-way power adjustments for the driver, climate control, and keyless ignition.

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For the power-hungry, the Optima EX Turbo and SX models come equipped with the 274-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter engine from the Sonata Turbo. The former, starting at $25,190, wears bigger disc brakes than naturally aspirated models, a different grille, and wood and metal interior accents. The $26,690 SX is the zenith of the Optima lineup, expanding on the EX Turbo’s equipment with 18-inch wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, HID headlights, LED taillights, wheel-mounted paddle shifters for the automatic transmission, carbon-fiber interior trim pieces, metal pedals, and illuminated door sill plates.

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As well as its Sonata sibling, the Optima LX undercuts competitors from Japan and the U.S. The cheapest Honda Accord sedan (like the Optima, it has a four-cylinder engine and manual) requires $21,930, while the entry-level Chevrolet Malibu (six-speed automatic only) rings in at $22,695. The Optima is another much-improved Kia product that just so happens to be the cheapest in its segment.